Spam/gossip
Dec. 6th, 2002 10:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kayreEvery six weeks or so, I receive an email from a particular member of my previous church. They are always forwards of the “someone is attacking Christianity, do something!” variety-- boycott Coke, write to the FCC/your representatives, etc. Today’s was the claim that there’s an FCC petition which if granted would make it illegal to mention religion in any way on television, forcing the cancellation of Touched By an Angel, televised church services, etc. (At least she sent a version that acknowledges that Madalyn Murray O’Hair is dead!) It generally takes me maybe 15 seconds to find the debunking on snopes.com (the example mentioned is here).
Until now I’ve simply sent her back a correction with links, though I’ve been increasingly forceful about it. Today I clicked “Reply all” and sent the correction to everyone she sent it to, with a note about not spreading gossip. It may seem like a small thing, but this kind of episode really bugs me. First of all, there’s the stupidity and gullibility-- even if she was just naive the first time, she knows now that it’s possible to search the net to see if what she reads is true. Beyond that, I truly do think it’s a form of gossip, though not directed at individuals. She hears something negative about a person or group, and passes it on-- and probably pats herself on the back for “doing something for the Lord” when all she has done is waste her time and mine, and pass on lies about a person or organization.
Next time I’ll get really nasty and start tacking on Bible verses about gossip.
Until now I’ve simply sent her back a correction with links, though I’ve been increasingly forceful about it. Today I clicked “Reply all” and sent the correction to everyone she sent it to, with a note about not spreading gossip. It may seem like a small thing, but this kind of episode really bugs me. First of all, there’s the stupidity and gullibility-- even if she was just naive the first time, she knows now that it’s possible to search the net to see if what she reads is true. Beyond that, I truly do think it’s a form of gossip, though not directed at individuals. She hears something negative about a person or group, and passes it on-- and probably pats herself on the back for “doing something for the Lord” when all she has done is waste her time and mine, and pass on lies about a person or organization.
Next time I’ll get really nasty and start tacking on Bible verses about gossip.
